Ontario-based organizations and projects leading the charge in reducing embodied carbon were celebrated at the 2025 Ontario Embodied Carbon Awards. Hosted on Thursday, November 20 at The Great Hall in Toronto, this third annual event, organized by the Toronto and Ottawa hubs of the Carbon Leadership Forum, spotlighted trailblazing efforts in sustainable building practices.

Embodied carbon, the greenhouse gas emissions that arise from the life cycle of building materials, is responsible for approximately 11 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the American Institute of Architects.

A 2017 report by the United Nations found almost half of the carbon emissions from new construction around the world between 2020 and 2050 will come from embodied carbon.

“The most important example is to share the lessons that we’re learning – that we can do this together and we’re stronger when we do it together as an industry,” Colin Berman, an associate partner at Toronto-based design firm DTAH, said in an interview with Sustainable Biz Canada after winning the award for innovation.